Plait-folder for sewing-machines.



J. H, DE NIKE. PLAIT FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES. APVPLIUATIYON I'IL'L'D JAN. 21, 1907. 1,1 03,663. Patented July 14, 19m

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'PLAIT FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1907.

1,103,663. Patented July 14,1914.

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J. H. DB NIKE.

PLAIT FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1907. v 1,1 03,663. Patented July 14,191;

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'orrnn STATES PATENT ornion.

JOSEPH H. DE NIKE, OF-ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLAIT-FOLDER FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Application filed January 21, 1907. Serial No. 353,285.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrr-r H. DE NIKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plait-Folders for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in plait folders for sewing machines, and has for its object to provide a box plait folder which is simple in construction and which is also capable of adj ustment so that various widths of box p-laits may be formed.

My invention consists in the novel parts and arrangements hereinafter shown and described.

In the present embodiment of my invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sewing machine with my improvement applied thereto, certain parts being sectioned in order to more clearly show the manner of folding the fabric. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the work support with my attachment applied thereto, certain parts of the machine being broken away for the sake of clearness. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the fabric to be folded placed in the folder. Fig. l is a sectional side view of the folding attachment. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the folding attachment, the parts being detached and separated in order to more clearly show the construction and the relation of the said parts. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the box plait formed upon my improved attachment.

In the accompanying drawings, the bed plate 1 is of the usual construction and overhanging the same is the usual supporting arm 2 for the needles. The needle bar?) recipro-cates in suitable bearings l, 4' formed at the end of the overhanging arm 2. The needle bar 3 carries suitably spaced needles 5, 5. The needle bar is reciprocated by the usual needle lever 6, which is connected by a link 7 to a lug 8 mounted on the needle bar. The presser bar 9 carries a presser foot 10 atits lower end, which cooperates with the feed dog 11, in holding the fabric while the same is being stitched and in feeding the fabric through the machine.

All of the above parts are of the usual construction, and will not therefore, require further description.

The fabric is folded to form a box plait by suitable complemental folding and guidmg fingers which extend within the box plait and operate to determine the width of the said plait. In the present embodiment of my invention, these fingers l2 and 13 (see Figs. 2 and 5) are supported upon a bracket or base plate 14, rigidly secured to the work support. Said bracket 14 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 8, is composed of two arms-l5 and 16 which are adjustably secured to the work support 1 by means of screws, 17, 17 and slots 18, 18. These arms and 16 approach each other as they extend from the work support and at their outer ends are united and together form a support for the fingers 12 and 13 and the means for adjusting the same.

The support for the fingers 12 and 13 consists of two spaced plates 19 and 20, the lower one of which is secured to the bracket 14. These plates 19 and 20 are formed integral at one end and are separated at the other end by a block 21. Sliding in the space between the plates 19 and 20, is a block 22 which has a horizontally extending opening 23. An adjusting screw 24:, extends through an opening formed in the portion of the plate connecting the plates 19 and 20 and has one end thereof threaded to engage a corresponding thread in the opening 23 in the sliding block. The adjusting screw 24 has a reduced portion 25 which engages a lug 26 on the supporting bracket, whereby the adjusting screw is held from longitudinal movement. It will be apparent therefore, that when said adjusting screw is turned either the one way or the other, that the sliding block 22 is moved in a direction longitudinally of the plates 19 and 20. The fingers 12 and 13 are provided with openings 27 and 28, respectively, which edge of the fingers 12' and 13 beyond the end engage a stud 29 on the plate 19. This stud 29 serves as apivotal support for the fingers 12 and 13. The finger 12 is also provided with a rectangular opening 30, which is located in the finger a short distance forward of its pivotal support. This opening 30, is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the,

finger. The finger 13 is provided with a sim ilar rectangular opening 31, which is dis posed the same distance from its pivotal sup port as the opening 30 in the finger 13. This rectangular opening 31 in the finger 13 is however, arranged so as to incline to the longitudinal axis of-said finger in a direction opposite to the inclination of the rectangular opening 30. Tile sliding block 22 is provided with a stud 32, which extends up through the rectangular openings 30 and 31.

The fingers 12 and 13 are superposed one upon the other as above noted and extend to a position adjacent the stitching point of the machine. The finger 12 has a projection 33 extending from its forward end and in line with its'folding edge, while the finger 13 has a similar projection 34 extending from its opposite edge. When the finger 12 is superposed uponthe finger 13, the projections 33 and 34 form a cut away portion in the forward end of the box plait former, which receives the forward end of the presser foot; The object of extending the folding of'the presser foot is sothat the folded fabric may be held properly positioned practically until the same is engaged. by the needles. The fingers 12 and 13 are provided with transfer slots 35 and 36 respectively. These slots register with one another and a suitable screw 37 passing through the said slots into the plate 19'may be used to look the fingers 1.2 and 13in their adjusted positions.

-The manner of adjusting the fingers 12 and 13 will be obvious from the above description. When the adjusting screw 24' is turned" in one direction, the sliding block 22 is moved longitudinally of the said fingers 12 and 13 and as the stud 32 moves with the said block, said stud will engage the sides of the inclined slots 30' and 31 and cause the fingers 12 and 13 to be swung on their pivotal stud 29 and be thereby adjusted at an angle to each otherand the line of seam formation. This movement of the fingers 12 and 13 causes the ends of said fingers adjacent the needles to be moved closer together or farther apart, thus causing a wider or a narrower fold in the fabric. It is necessary however, to fold the fabric underneath the plate former, made by the fingers 12 and 13, and this is accomplished in the present embodiment of my invention by the folding blades 38 and 39, which are suspended above thework support or bed plate of the sewing machine. In order to provide a suitable support for the folding blades, 1 have provided a bracket 40 which is secured to the head of the machine bysuitable screws 41 41. This bracket 40 extends outwardly {from the head of the machineand bent jaround to a position infront' of the needles. Said bracket 40- carries supporting arms 42 and 43 which, are shown in the drawing as formed integral, and are secured to the bracket40 by screws 4-4 44. This blade-38 .is provided with an upwardly and out- 'wardly extending shank 45 which is secured lto the supporting arm 42 by suitable screws 46. Thefolding blade 39 has an outwardly and upwardly extending shank 47 which is secured to the supporting arm 43 by screws 48. The arms 42 and 43 extend outwardly from each other and are thus spaced so that the fingers 12 and 13 together with the fab-' ric folded over the same may pass between .said arms. The folding blades 38 and 39 however, extendunderneath the folding fingers 12 and 13 so as to fold the fabric en.- fgaged thereby around the fingers 12 and 13 as-clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

I It will be noted that the folding blades 33 and 39 are spaced a less distance from each other than the needles 5, 5. It will also be noted: that these folding blades 38 and 39 are so disposed relative to the needles that the folds in the fabric formed around the blades 38 and 39 will pass between the of the folding blades relative to the needles is to bring the folded edges of the fabric underneath the box pl'ait'between the two needles so that the said edges will be secured by the stitchingthus forming and fixing the box plait.

The manner of operating my device will be apparent from the above description. The

isfed from'the fingers 12 and 13, and as it is moved into the machine, it is drawn around 'under the folding blades 38 and 39. These blades 38 and 39 are tapered-outwardly at their receiving end, in order to all'ow'the fabric to be easily fed into the folder. The fabric which is folded around the folding'blades 38 and 39, is drawn underneath said blades, and as said blades 33 and 39 are supported by the head of the machine, said fabric may pass freely under. these blades; As clearly shown in Fig. 6, the folded edges of the fabric passingfrom the folding blades are stitched and thus secured :to the body fabric. When a wider plait is .fdesired; the adjusting screw is turned so as lto spread the fingers 12 and 13. narrower plait is desired, the adjusting jscrew is turned in the opposite direction ithus drawing the fingers together.

needles 5, 5. The object of this disposition.

.fabric F in-which a box plait is-to be formed It will be noted that the controlling screw 2% for adjusting the members 12 and 13 is mounted at the end of the bracket and that therefore, the same is in a position where it may be operated without removing the fabric which is be plaited from the ma chine. This is an extremely important feature especially where material having stripes is being plaited for it is often desired to adjust. the material after the same is in the machine to properly locate the stripe in the plait. Again it will. be noted that the members 45 and at? are slotted so that by loosening the screws t and f8 said members may be adjusted laterally. The purpose of this adjustment is to locate the fold underneath the plait properly relative to the needles. With this adjustment the fold in the fabric may be located relative to the needle so that the needle will pass through the fold close to the edge and thus all unnecessary Waste in making; the box plait is avoided.

From lfig. t, it will be noted that the b *acket 14: for supporting tile central plait forming members projects outwardly from the machine and that the said members are carried by said bracket so that the forward end of said members projects over the bed plate and are in fact suspended above the work support or bed plate. It will thus be seen that the plait supporting members and the cooperatingplait folding members are all susoended above the work support leaving said support entirely free for the movement of the fabric.

Instead of supporting the bracket from the upper edge of the work plate, it is obvious that said bracket may be supported from the framework underneath the work support or even from the bench on which the machine is mounted. Therefore, in the claims where I have used the term work support, I do not intend that said claims shall be limited to the cloth plate on which the work rests.

While in the present structure I have shown both the members 33 and 34 as being moved together, it will be noted that l. may provide means for moving one of said members independently of the other. The purpose of such adjustment would be to properly position a stripe so as to properly locate the same, with respect to the ofv the box plait.

It will be obvious that many changes in the construction herein described may be made wi hout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having" thus particularly described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to 3 secure by Letters Patent is l. A box plait folder for sewing machines, includmg in combination plait forming members, means for simultaneously ad usting said plait-forming members for different sized plaits, means for supporting said plait forming members from the work support of the machine, and folding members cooperating With the plait forming members, and means for supporting the folding members from the head of the machine; substantially as described.

'2. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination plait forming members, means for supporting said plait forming members from the work support of the machine, means for simultaneously adjusting said plait forming members and means cotiperating with. said plait forming members to form a box plait; substantially as described.

3. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination plait forming; members, means for adjustably supporting said plait forming members, whereby said plait forming members may be adjusted transversely of the machine, independent means for adjusting the plait forming mem hers for different sized plaits, and means cooperating with said plait forming members to form a box plait; substantially as described.

t. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in cemliiination plait forming members, means for adjusting the plait forming; members for different sized plaits, a bracket secured to the Work support, and extending outwardly therefrom, for supporting said plait forming meml ers, and means cooperating with said plait forn'iinp; members to form a box plait; substantially as described.

5. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination coiperatingr pl ait forming members, means for adjusting the plait forming members for different sized plaits, a bracket secured to the work support and extending outwardly therefrom, for supporting said plait forming members, and a folding plate located on each side of said plait forming members and cooperating;- therewith and means carried by the head of the machine for supporting said folding plates; substantially as described.

(3. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination cooperating plait forming members, means for adjusting the plait forming members for different sized plaits, a bracket secured to the work support and extending outwardly therefrom, for supporting said plait forming members, folding blades cciiperatii'ig with said plait forming members, arms supported by the head of the machine and extending out wardly to positions on opposite sides of the plait forming members, for support the folding blades; substantially as descri ed.

7. A box plait folder including in comand for holding the same intheir adjusted positions, and means cooperating with said plait forming members to fold a material about the same to form a box plait; substantially as described.

8. A box plait folder including in combination, plait forming members over which a plait may be folded, common means for adjustingboth of said plait forming members, and means cooperating with the plait forming members for folding the fabric around said forming members to form a box.

plait; substantially as described.

9. A box plait folder including in combination, plait forming members, a bracket secured to the work support of the machine, and supporting said plait fo ining members, common. means for adjusting said plait forming members, folding blades cooperating with said plait forming members, to form a'box plait and means carried by the head of the machine for supporting said folding blades; substantially as described.

10. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination plait forming members, a bracket secured to the work support of the machine, and supporting said plait forming members, common means for adjusting said plait forming members, folding blades cooperating with said plait forming members to form a box plait, spaced arms carried by the head of the machine, and supporting said folding blades; substantially as described.

11. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination plait forming members superposed one upon the other over which a plait may be folded, means for pivotally supporting one end of said plait forming members, means for swinging said plait forming members upon their pivot and means cooperating with the plaitforming'members to fold the fabric around the same, to form a box plait; substantially as. described.

12. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination plait forming' members, superposed one upon the other, means for pivotally supporting one end of said plait forming members, means for swinging said plait forming members upon their pivot, folding blades carried by the head ofthe machine, and cooperating with the plait forming members to form a box plait; substantially as described.

18. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination pivoted fingers over which the fabric may be folded to form a plait, means for moving the free ends of said fingers relative to each other and for holding the same in their adjusted positions, and means cooperating therewith to foldthe fabric around the same to form a box plait; substantially as described.

14. A box plait folder for sewingma chines, including in combination pivoted fingers, means for adjusting the free ends of said fingers and for holding the same in their adjusted positions and folding blades carried by the headofthe machine and coplait; substantially as described. 7

15. A box plait folder for sewing machines, comprising in combination a bracket, means for adjustably supporting said bracket upon the work support of the ma; chine, plait forming fingers carried by said bracket, meanscarried by said bracket for adjusting said plait forming fingers, and for holding said fingers in their adjusted positions, and means cooperating with said plait forming members for forming a box plait; substantially as described.

16. A box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination pivoted fingers over'which a fabric may be folded to form a plait, a bracket for supporting said fingers, means for simultaneously adjusting the free end of said fingers and means cooperating with said plait forming fingers to fold the fabric over the same; substantially as described.

17. A box plait folder for sewing ma: chines, including in combination a bracket, means for securing said bracket to the work support of the machine, spaced plates carried by said bracket, a sliding block intermediate said spaced plates, means for sliding said block, pivoted plait forming fingers carried by one of said plates, and means for connecting said sliding block to said plait forming fingers, whereby the :jsame may be simultaneously adjusted, and Qmeans cooperating therewith to form a box f plait; substantially as described.

18. A box plait folder for sewing maychines, including incombination, a bracket, means for securing said bracket to the work isupport of the machine, spaced plates car- ;ried by said bracket,a sliding block inter- ;mcdiate said spacedplates, means for sliding said block, pivoted plait forming fingers carried by one of said plates, means for con necting said sliding block to said plate forming fingers, whereby the same may be simultaneously adjusted, folding blades cooperating with said plait forming fingers, and means carried by the head of the machine "rmsupporting said blades; substantially as described. I

19. A sewing machine including in combination, a work support, a presser foot, and a boX plait folder comprising. plait forming members having their forward ends cut away to form a space for the presser -foot, and means cooperating with said plait operating with said fingers to form a box forming members to form a box plait; substantially as described.

20. The combination with a sewing machine, including a work support, a presser foot and stitch forming mechanism, comprising spaced needles, of a box plait folder including plait forming members over which the fabric may be folded, means for adjustably supporting said plait forming members, whereby said plait forming members may be simultaneously positioned centrally of said needles, and means for cooperating with said plait forming members for folding the fabric to form a box plait; substantially as described.

21. The combination with a sewing machine including a work support, a presser foot and stitch forming mechanism comprising spaced needles, of a. box plait folder located centrally in front of said needles comprising plait forming members over which the fabric may be folded, and means for simultanemisly adjusting said plait forming members equally in opposite directions; substantially as described.

The combination with a sewing machine including a work support, a presser foot and stitch-forming mechanism comprising spaced needles, of plait-forming mem bers over which the material may be folded for forming a plait, and a single means for adj usting said plait-forming members relative to each other whereby the width of the plait may be changed.

The combination with a sewing machine, including a work support, a presser foot and stitch forming mechanism comprising spaced needles, an adjust-able box plait folder having overlapping members and adjustable cooperating members capable of being spaced apart to equal the space between the needles, whereby a fold in the fabric is formed on a line with the needles; substantially as described.

24. In a sewing machine a box plaiting attachment, having overlapping members, means for supporting the same, means cooperating therewith, to fold the material back upon itself, said overlapping members being adjustable, so that the width of the fold may be varied.

25. In a sewing machine, a plaiting attachment including adjustable plait-forming members over which the fabric is folded to form a plait, devices cooperating with the plait-forming members for holding the fabric around the same, and means whereby said plait-forming members may be adjusted relative to each other, while the material is in position thereon, for varying the width of the plait.

26. A. box plait folder for sewing machines, including in combination plait form ing members over which the fabric may be folded, means for simultaneously adjusting said plait-forming members for different size plaits, and cooperating members for guiding the fabric around said plait-forming members, said cotiperating members being located in a plane at one side of the plait-fermin g members.

27. The combination of a work support, a presser foot, a stitch-forming mechanism, plait-forming members over which the material may be folded for forming a plait, said plait-forming members being disposed in different horizontal planes, a single means for adjusting said plait-forming members, whereby the width of the plait may be changed, and devices cooperating with said plait-forming members, for hold-- ing the fabric around the same.

28. A box plait folding device for sewing machines including in combination a needle and plait forming members, folding memhers cooperating with the plait forming members said plait forming and folding members being supported above the cloth plate of the machine, said plait forming members projecting toward the needle in a horizontal plane above and between the folding members; means for simultaneously adjusting said plait forming members for different size plaits; substantially as described.

29. In a sewing machine, a needle, a box plaiting attachment comprising two oppo sitely disposed folding members, adjustably spaced shanks for supporting said members, a coiiperating plait forming member having its delivering end projecting between the spaced shanks and in line with the needle and means for simultaneously adjusting said plait-forming members for different size plaits; substantially as described.

30. In a box plait folder for sewing machines, a baseplate, complemental folding and guiding fingers mounted thereon, a bracket provided'with oppositely arranged folding blades suspended above the bed plate of the sewing machine, in combination with means for simultaneously. adjusting said folding and guiding fingers toward and from one another.

31. In a box plait folder for sewing machines, a base plate, complemental folding and guiding fingers mounted thereon, a bracket provided with oppositely arranged folding blades suspended above the bed plate of the sewing machine, in combina tion with means, including a device operatively connected with said folding and guiding fingers, for adjusting said fingers at an angle to each other and to the line of the seam formation.

32. A plait-forming attachment, includ ing in combination plait forming members,

means cooperating therewith to fold the gig fabric around said lait-forming members,

'zi'nd means to adjust said plait ferming A'sewing machine including in c0mibinzition pleit forming members, members coiiperating therewith to fold a 'fabric around said plait forming members, and a Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents catch, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

(separating device for" spreading the plait 10 forming plalt.

members to Vary the size of the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH H. DE NIKE. Witnesses: I

JOHN C. BAUER, JESSIE P. ANDREWS.

Washington, D. G. 

